PolyCannabinoids—Synthetic Polyesters from Natural Feedstock, Cannabidiol (CBD), Cannabigerol (CBG) and Adipic Acid, as Non-Phenolic Antioxidant Bioplastics

Polycannabinoids are a platform technology based upon the polymerization of natural feedstock monomers. Two examples of monomers include cannabidiol, CBD, and cannabigerol, CBG, two of the five main cannabinoids in cannabis. CBD isolate, the pure form of CBD extracted from hemp biomass was used as a diol monomer along with adipoyl chloride, the monomer used for Nylon, to produce a polyester CBD-adipate. Hydrolysis of polyCBD-Adipate occurs under basic condition to produce CBD, insoluble in water, along with the natural chemical adipic acid that dissolves in water. Side-by-side studies with polylactic acid (PLA) show polyCBD-Adipate to be noncytotoxic, and unlike PLA, polyCBD-Adipate shows anti-oxidant activity with ORAC assay. CBD having two rings in its structure is then compared to CBG having one ring. In line with expectations based upon the number of rings, polyCBG-adipate exhibits a glass transition temperature at -33°C whereas polyCBD-Adipate is at 37°C. Copolymerization of CBD, CBG and adipic acid allows for the glass transition to be tuned to any specific temperature within this -33 to 37°C range. The anti-oxidant capability of a bioplastic presents a tremendous opportunity to applications in which materials need to hold up to oxidative stress, potentially protecting species such as drugs and enzymes that are prone to oxidation.